Showerthought: I thought comic book grading was a total scam until I sold my old Amazing Spider-Man #300

For years, I saw those slabbed comics and thought it was just a way for companies to make money off collectors. I had my copy of Amazing Spider-Man #300 from when I was a kid, just in a bag and board. It looked fine to me. Then last year, I decided to sell it to help pay for a car repair. A buyer offered me $400 raw. On a whim, I sent it to CGC for grading, which cost about $50 and took six weeks. It came back a 9.2. I sold it for over $1,200. The detailed report showed things I never even noticed, like a tiny color break on the spine. It proved the book was real and in that specific condition. Now I get why some people swear by it, but it still feels weird to seal a comic in plastic forever. What's the line for you guys between protecting value and actually enjoying the book?

3 comments

3 Comments

harper_owens1mo agoMost Upvoted

Read an article about how those slabs basically act as a certificate of authenticity now. Makes sense for high value books, but I'd never slab my reading copies.

robing671mo ago

Gotta be honest, that whole certificate of authenticity thing feels a bit overblown. It's just a book in plastic.

lucas6319d ago

Just a book in plastic" misses the point. That slab gives a clear, trusted grade that sets a real market value. For collectors, that certainty is the whole game.